Beat Street

James Blunt has done two things right in “Some Kind Of Trouble”, he cut his hair and he does not whine as much about losing love, lost love, and love that could be lost. Something about Blunt's music has always made for the perfect break-up blues playlist. Take for instance even the titles of his album, his first being “Back to Bedlam”, followed by “All The Lost Souls” and now he has released his third studio album, “Some Kind Of Trouble” — all sound chronically depressing.

With his first hit “You're Beautiful”, James Blunt has succeeded in rubbing a lot of people the wrong way with his sensitive (read: corny) lyrics and his melodic (read: nauseating) voice. That however has become a characterisation he has not been able to shake off.

But James surprises us with the first song on “Some Kind Of Trouble”. The sun, sand and all else that James has is soaking up in Ibiza is definitely working for the former soldier who moved there in 2009. So what if “Stay The Night” is as annoying as a chirpy morning person and so what if the opening riff does sound a bit like “Hey, Soul Sister” by Train, you have to forgive the man for making an attempt to be cheery.

If you are shocked by the cheer, Blunt goes completely commercial and saucy on the next track, “Dangerous”. Uncharacteristically perky, this song has none of his signature details until his falsetto chorus. The chorus marks the return of the album to the more familiar ballads we have come to know and grudgingly love Blunt for, with “Best Laid Plans”.

From then on the album dips and does not return. “No Tears” not particularly impressive and nor is “So Far Gone”. Both of which reek of Blunt's crooning and his faithful piano that rings clearer than anything else. “Superstar” is just a rehashed tune and bad poetry that sings about the death of the concept of superstar at the hands of reality television in America.

In “These Are The Words” Blunt goes back to doing what he does best – a ballad about a failed first love. This album trudges along with one song after another, sometimes wallowing in self pity and sometimes just wallowing. For those of you who have never liked Blunt, avoid “Some Kind Of Trouble” like the swine flu.